New census papers wey dem release after 100 years don show one big change for early Irish Free State. The 1926 census wey dem just put online for Saturday morning show say Protestant population drop by one-third between 1911 and 1926.
For 1911, Ireland still dey under United Kingdom. But by 1926, the country don split into Irish Free State and Northern Ireland. The data show say non-Catholic population, wey mostly na Protestants, fall by 32% for those years. Catholic population only drop by 2% for same period.
National Archives director Orlaith McBride talk say this change na “very, very significant.” She explain say between 1911 and 1926, many Protestants move go Northern Ireland while Catholics from border areas come down to Irish Free State.
The years between 1911 and 1926 na some of the most turbulent times for Ireland history. Easter Rising and War of Independence happen for this period. That war lead to creation of independent Irish Free State for 1922.
Census officials estimate say about quarter of the Protestant decline fit be because British Army and their families don leave. But even with population drop, Protestants still dey well represented for many professional, commercial and agricultural jobs for 1926.
Historians wey dey work with National Archives find say number of non-Catholic farmers and their families even increase small since 1911. Protestants still dey over-represented among larger farms, partly because many benefit from land reform.
The total population for Irish Free State fall from 3,139,688 for 1911 to 2,971,992 for 1926. Dublin na the only county wey record population increase since 1911, up by almost 6%. All other counties record loss.
For job distribution, 51% of people dey work for agricultural occupations. 4% na fishermen, 14% dey manufacturing and 7% na domestic servants. The population split into 49% female and 51% male.
Orlaith McBride talk say even though people with other religions dey live for Free State that time, majority na Protestants. She add say the census never just be about lists and numbers but na “the story of us.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin describe the census release as “historic moment.” He talk say to carry out census so soon after independence na “bold and visionary decision.” Minister Patrick O’Donovan call am “significant day for the country and our diaspora.”
Major exhibition wey go explore life for 1926 go run at Dublin Castle from April 19 until August 15, 2027. After that, e go tour London, Boston, and Ireland.
One of the people wey dey for 1926 census na Anne Carey from County Meath. She go turn 102 for November. Carey na one of 48 centenarian ambassadors wey dem choose from almost 100 people wey dey alive when dem take the census for 1926.
Carey work as seamstress and make her own clothes. She even make fur coats for Dublin. She remember when German bombs drop for Dublin for 1941. Her secret to living past 100 years? She say she always look through her window and tell herself: “I’ll never see this day again, don’t bang it up.”
The 1926 census weekend na April 18, 1926. That time, newspaper reports include £20,000 jewel robbery from Mount Juliet estate for County Kilkenny and La Mancha house murders for Malahide, County Dublin where six people die.
Other news that weekend include arrests for Paris linked to narcotics trafficking, political allegations for Dublin, street litter fines for Munich, and road-traffic deaths for Alberta. Ordinary life still dey go on with soccer match for Dublin, horse racing at Leopardstown, and charity hockey game.
Now say the census dey online, families fit search their own histories. The National Archives team work hard to catalogue and preserve the records. More than 750,000 household returns dey now available freely to public after 100-year limitation period expire.
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